Tips and trips to keep live Christmas wreaths and garlands fresh to enjoy them throughout the holiday season without the mess. Add stair garland and fresh wreaths into your home for the holidays without fear of them drying prematurely.
I prefer decorating with fresh greens for the holidays. Bringing the outdoor in brings your home to life, adds a lovely and festive fragrance and eliminates the need to store decor.
For me, it’s worth a little extra effort to incorporate live Christmas wreaths, live garlands and greens into our decor. With these easy steps, you can extend the life of your greens and enjoy them all season. Some even look prettier as they dry! Stair garland has always been my favorite to integrate. It’s so dramatic and dresses up stairs so beautifully. We usually enjoy our stair garland 3-4 weeks!
How long will fresh greenery last?
Indoors live Christmas Wreaths and live garlands can last two to three weeks when properly cared for. Outdoor in cooler climates they can last much longer.
How to Keep Live Christmas Wreaths Fresh
Store them in a cool area until ready to use. A garage, unfinished basement or refrigerator are all viable options.
Before hanging submerge live wreaths in enough water to feed the cut stems overnight.
Use an anti-desiccant spray to seal in the moisture.
To maintain, spritz the back of the wreath with water so the cut stems can drink the water. This will retain it’s fragrance and extend it’s life. You can also spritz the front of live wreaths.
If possible, keep them out of sunlight and away from heat vents.
How to Keep Live Garlands Fresh
Store them in a cool area until ready to use. A garage, unfinished basement or refrigerator are all viable options.
Use an anti-desiccant spray to seal in the moisture.
Spritz the garland with water every 2-3 days to extend the life. I like to use this glass spray bottle.
If possible, keep them out of sunlight and away from heat vents.
How to Keep Christmas Greens Fresh
Store them in a cool area until ready to use. A garage, unfinished basement or refrigerator are all viable options.
Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle with pruners and place in water that is room temperature.
If they are going into a fresh Christmas garland or wreath gently crushing the exposed stem with a small hammer. Allow the stems to drink water for a few hours after cutting them before integrating them.
Use an anti-desiccant spray to seal in the moisture.
If possible, keep them out of sunlight and away from heat vents and the fireplace.
Spritz the fresh Christmas garland with water every 2-3 days to extend the life. I like to use this glass spray bottle.
The Best Greenery to Use Indoors
Pine, fir, cedar and English holly tend to do better indoors than other greens.
You can learn how to preserve boxwood, how to enhance a wreath from the grocery store and create this winter centerpiece here!
Julie,
I love this post! We always use fresh greens and don’t put them up until 2-3 weeks before Christmas-because they do dry out. When we first get them, I submerge them in our pool until ready to use. Since it’s too cold to swim, it’s a good use for all that water!!!
Sometimes I do mix artificial in with the fresh ones, just to add bulk. Never thought to use an anti-dissecant spray. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
What a great idea!
Julie,
Also, do you know what the blue spikey things are in the wreath? I just received a bouquet of flowers yesterday and it had those blue spikey things in it~~and I love them. Have never seen them before? Is it thistle?
Yes, thistle! I love integrating it into arrangements. Whole Foods usually offers it and on occasion, Trader Joe’s. Enjoy!
I love how you did the garland on the stairway. Keeps the bannister open for holding on to!
Thank you, Mary! Hope you enjoy decorating for the holidays!